Diego Gutierrez

Former University of Evansville and Major League Soccer standout Diego Gutierrez has been chosen as recipient of the 2010 Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Gutierrez played two years at the University of Evansville under coach Fred Schmalz in the early 90s before going on to a long Major League Soccer career with Chicago and Kansas City. He recently joined Philadelphia Union’s technical staff as the Head of Scouting and Player Development for the MLS squad.

Gutierrez’s humanitarian efforts have been outstanding. Since 2007, he has served as the national spokesman for Nothing But Nets, a global grass-roots program designed to save children from malaria. He and his wife, Ginna, have helped raise more than $30 million in donations to the Nothing But Nets campaign. These efforts gained him induction to the World’s Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 2009, joining the fabled Pelé as the only two soccer players to receive the honor.